Prakrit Jainshastra aur Ahimsa Shodh Samsthan Vaishali Swarna Jayanti Gaurav Granth

SR No.: 012064
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Rushabhchand Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Jainshastra aur Ahimsa Shodh Samsthan Vaishali
Publication Year: 2010
Total Pages: 520
Language: Hindi, English
Classification: Smruti_Granth & Articles
File Size: 13 MB

Page 423

South East Asia and Indian Ocean in Jaina Literature
405
sung, ahmnins muttered the āsīsa; and thus in the sound of invocation and jaya jaya the shop took off its voyage, the sails were unfurled, the ropes and riggings were pulled up, the oars began to be operated, the helmsman took observations, the shop fell into its course, favorable winds began to blow. Thus the shop started its journey being tossed on the high sea waves.
The ship reached to its destination. It touched the landing, and the merchant got on the coast. It was then the custom to pay a visit to the king by making suitable presents, while obtaining from him his consent or tacit charter to trade in his territory. They paid all the customs, charges and taxes (dittho rāyā kao pasāo). In the trade of precious stones and gems, it was customary not to utter the value loudly by word of mouth but through a piece of cloth or a scarf on the jewels and pearls to be sold. Then the buyer and seller put their hands under the cloth, both the them negotiating by means of some signs conveyed through the fingers of the hands (diņņa hattha-saññā). It is also stated that after taking other goods in exchange and before leaving the place the foreign merchant make some charitable gifts to the local religious teachers and establishments (diņņam dānam).
On the return journey, the greedy merchant pushed his friend in the mid-ocean and raised a false cry of his having slipped into the sea. The pious merchant after struggling for some time against the waves sank under the water and either lost his life or reached to a Dvspa and got married with its king's daughter. In case he lost his life, he became a Vyantaradeva whom, in order to revenge him against the mischief-making merchant, caused the storm leading to shipwreck. The ships were well guarded along with a lot of bustle of instructions. However, there were attacks from the Bhillas or Dasyus who robbed the caravans of all that was valuable.
This had become a literary motif as appears from other Jain and non-Jain works. The Kuvalayamālā gives a strange reference to the capture of the floating merchant by some people on Tārādvīpa and preparing from his blood and flesh an ingredient considered